Counterbalance



Patented July 19, 1927."

UNITED STATES 1,636,274 PATENT OFFICE.

Beams 0. nAxna, on common, canmoama, ASSIGNOR 'ro BAKER casme snon comm, a coaroina'rron or ourroanu.

GOUN'IEBBALANCE. 7

Application filed October 12, 1926. Serial No. 141,210.

This invention relates to deepwell pumping equipment and particularly pertains to a counterbalance for the band wheel shaft of such apparatus.

I When pumping a deep well the weight of the pump rods and auxiliary members is suspended directly from the walking beam. This weight is usually considerable and it has been found desirable to counterbalance 1 it to reduce the amount of power required to drive the pumping mechanism.

It is the principal object of the present invention to generally improve and simplify counterbalancing devices of the character re- 15 ferred to whereb to provide an improved counterbalance 0 comparatively simple and inexpensive construction and wherein the counterweight may be securely united with the arm and its position easily and 'quickly changed relative to the shaftwith which it revolves.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a counterbalancing arm .embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the counterweights. v

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the other counterweight showing the manner in which it is mounted on the arm.

Fig. 4 is central sectional view through the counter; sights and arm showing the manner in WhlCh the counterweights embrace the arm.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings the numeral indicates a band wheel shaft. The connections between this shaft and the pumping-mechanism is well known and is therefore not i1 lustrated.

For counterbalancing purposes I provide an arm 11 having a split bearing 12 formed at one end, which is intended to be keyed to the shaft 10 so that the arm will extend radially of the shaft. At its outer end the arm is formed at its opposite edges with a plurality of keys 14 which are spaced equal distances apart. Adapted to be arranged at the outer end of the arm is a pair of interlocking counterweights 15 and 16, which also interlock with the arm as will be described.

It will be noticed that the inner surface of the counterweight 16 is formed with a recess 17, which extends across the counterweight centrally thereof. This recess is of the same width and depth as the width andv thickness of the arm, so that the latter may nest therein. At the sides of the recess pockets 18 are formed of the same size, spacing and configuration as the keys on the arm, so that the counterweight may be fitted on the portion of the arm bearing the keys. Such a connection between the arm and the counterweight securely unites the counterweight to the arm when the counterweight 15 is bolted to the counterweight 16, clamping the arm between the two counterweights, It will be noticed that the counterweight 15 is formed with projections 19 at its opposite ends which engage recesses 20 formed in the counterweight 16. These projections and recesses form an interlocking connection between the counterweights, so that a shearing stress will not be placed on bolts 21 which extend through the counterweights and secure them to ether.

Reference being ad to Fig. 3 it' is seen that the portion of the arm bearing the keys is considerably longer than the counterweights. This is for the purpose of permittin the counterweights to be adjusted towar and away from the center of the band shaft, therebyregulating its effectiveness. It is obvious that by removingthe bolts 21 the counterweights may be slipped from the arm and arranged thereon closer or fartherfrom the center of the shaft, after which the counterweights may be bolted together to secure them to the arm.

By the provision of the interlocking connection between the counterweights, a shearing stress will not be placed on the bolts 21 when the device is in operation. This is a desirable feature as it prevents the counterweights from becoming detached from the arm.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcm is:

1. A counterbalancing device for well pumping apparatuses and the like comprising an arm adapted to be fixed at one end to the band wheel shaft of the apparatus and extend radially of the shaft, a counterweight adaptedto be arran ed on the arm adjacent its outer end, keys orined on the arm, said counterweight. being recessed to receive the arm and'keys, and means for retaining said arm in engagement with said counterweight.

2. A counterbalancing device for well pumping apparatuses and the like comprismg an arm adapted to be fixed at one end to the band wheel shaft of the apparatus and extend radially of the shaft, a pair of counterweights adapted to be. arranged upon opposite sides of the arm adjacent the outer end thereof, keys projectin from said arm, recesses formed intermediate. the contiguous faces of the counterwei hts to receive the key bearing portion of t e arm, and means for clamping said counterweights together to secure them to the arm.

3. A counterbalancing device for {well pumping apparatuses and the like comprismg an arm adapted to be fixed at. one end to the band wheel shaft of the apparatus and extend radially of the shaft, a pair of counterweights adapted to be arranged upon opposite si s of the arm adjacent the outer end thereof, keys projecting from said arm, recesses formed intermediate the contiguous faces of the counterwei hts to receive the keybearing portion of t e arm, and means for clamping said counterweights together to secure them to the arm, projections formed on one of said counterweights, the other counterweight having recesses formed therein to receive said projections whereby said counterweights will interlock when secured together. I

4. A counterbalancing device for well pumping apparatuses and the like compris- 1n an arm adapted to be connected ,at one enfito a shaft and extend radially of the latter, the other end of the arm being formed "with a plurality of keys extending from its opposite sides, a pair of counterweights adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of the arm, one of said counterweights being recessed to embrace a portion of the outer end of the arm and the keys thereon, said recess occurring in the surface of the counterweight against which the other counterweight abuts, bolts extending throu h the counterweights to clamp them to t e arm, and interlockin means formed at the meeting surfaces 0 said counterweights whereby they will interlock when clamped together.

REUBEN o. BAKER. 

